Apparatus for the propulsion of ships.



C. R. MAYHALL.

APPARATUS FOR THE PROPULSION 0F SHIPS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 11, 1909.

961,306. Patented June 14,1910.

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' CHARLES ROBERT MAYHALL, OF ARROYO GRANDE, OALIFORNIA.

APPARATUS FOR THE PROPULSION 0F SHIPS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 14, 1910.

Application filed June 11, 1909. Serial No. 501,635.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES R. ll IAYHALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Arroyo Grahde, in the county of San Luis Obispo-and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for the Propulsion of Ships; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for the propulsion of ships by means of compressed air.

lVith the arrangements now in use, it is often exceedingly diflicult to handle and shift vessels in confined quarters, and auxiliary appliances, such as tugs, are often required to accomplish the purpose desired and which in addition to consuming considerable time in performing the operationsare also expensive.

The object of this invention, therefore, is to provide simple means carried by the vessel whereby it may be turned on its own axis, moved bodily sidewise, driven backward or forward, or shifted in any other way re quired without the necessity or expense of employing outside assistance.

WVith the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a horizontal sect-ion through the hull of a vessel equipped with this improvement; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section thereof.

In the apparatus shown for carrying out this method, a compressed air tank 1 1s arranged in any part of the boat where it will occupy the least space and it may be supplied with air from anysuitable source, a pump 2 operated in any suitable manner being preferably arranged for this purpose. Connected with this air tank are pipes 3 and 4 which open through the front and rear of the boat, respectively, and are provided with outwardly opening discharge valves for ejecting1 a stream ofcompressed ai r therethroug to propel the vessel the direction in which it is desired to go and which may be used either in connection with the ordinary propellers or without them. Branch pipes 5 and 6 are preferably arranged near the front end of the. boat and provided with steam pipes 9 extending there:

through for the purpose of heating and expanding the air contained therein toiucrease the pressure thereof.

In the operation of a boat equipped with this apparatus, when it is desired to propel the boat forward, the valve at the outer end of the pipe 4 at the rear of the boat 1s opened-thereby causing the et of compressed air to be forced into the water which causes the boat to be propelled rapidly forward. To drive the boat in the opposite directlon, the valve in the pipe 3 at the front of the boat is opened which instantly reverses the direction and moves the boat rearwardly, an ordinary rudder 10 being preferably used for steering when the. boat is being moved longitudinally. To prevent a head-on collision, the pipe 6' at the side of the boat is opened to turn the boat to the right and to turn it to the left, the pipe 5 is opened. The captains bridge is preferably provlded wlth emergency levers (not shown) connected with the valves in the respective pipes to provide for the quick action of the boat, thus making a collision practically 1mpossible. T

To turn the boat entirely around on its own axis, as on a pivot, the valves in pipes 6 and 7 are opened thereby forcing a 1% of air to the left at the front end of the boat and a jet of air to the right at the rear end thereof, which turns the boat iua very small space and in case of a battleship or fleet of shipsv adapts them to take position 1n front of an enemy broad side for the operation of the star-board guns, and then turning on a ivot by opening the proper valves in the laterally extendin pipes at the front and rear of the boat and presenting the port guns for operation thereby avoiding running in a circle and avoiding injury to their own boats. To move the boat to one side, for instance to the right, the valves in the pipes G and 8 are 0 ened forcing jets of air into the Water an thus moving the boat in the opposite direction, to cause it to take any position desired.

By the use of this improved means, it has been found that a boat may be handled with perfect ease in any direction and that when used for propelling, the speed is increased one-third.

From the foregoing description, taken in pipes arranged near the front end of the vessel and opening through the opposite side walls thereof at points diametrically opposite, and similar pipes arranged at the rear end of the vessel, said lateral pipes having valves arranged therein, means for communication betWeen the first-mentioned pipe and compressed air tank and steam pipes extending longitudinally through the tank to heat and expand the compressed air therein in order to increase the pressure thereof.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES ROBERT MAYHALL. 

